Country of origin information provides important context for understanding and evaluating an asylum application. It explains the broader environment in which the applicant lived, such as political and socioeconomic conditions and the current events, customs, and practices that contributed to a "well-founded fear of persecution."
This page provides additional information about what country of origin information is, where to find it, and how to use it. Taking good notes on your research process is imperative, as many of the suggested sources overlap. In addition, be sure to evaluate all information through the lens of your client's situation. Your objective is not to provide a general report on the country, but rather to show how specific conditions in the country substantiate your client's claims.
Note, too, that the Resources for Pro Bono Attorneys tab includes related resources.
For general parameters about sources of information regarding credible fear of persecution or torture, see
8 CFR 1208.11 Comments from the Department of State
8 CFR 1208.12 Reliance on Information Compiled by Other Sources
Includes "an immigration judge may rely on material provided by the Department of State, other Department of Justice offices, the Department of Homeland Security, or other U.S. Government agencies, and may rely on foreign government and non-governmental sources if those sources are determined by the judge to be credible and the material is probative."
8 CFR 1208.13 Establishing Asylum Eligibility
For instance, subsection (b)(2)(iii) notes that (emphasis mine)
(iii) In evaluating whether the applicant has sustained the burden of proving that he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution, the asylum officer or immigration judge shall not require the applicant to provide evidence that there is a reasonable possibility he or she would be singled out individually for persecution if:
(A) The applicant establishes that there is a pattern or practice in his or her country of nationality or, if stateless, in his or her country of last habitual residence, of persecution of a group of persons similarly situated to the applicant on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; and
(B) The applicant establishes his or her own inclusion in, and identification with, such group of persons such that his or her fear of persecution upon return is reasonable.
Chapter 4 covers source assessment. At pages 89-102, it provides more detail about this assessment framework, that has you ask:
Keep detailed notes!
Note research path, as well as what you found. (See example notes.)
Some additional sources that may be helpful that were not included on the MN COI links (as of our last check):
Search terms
You may have to do more than one search to determine the best search terms. Once you find a relevant item, be sure to look at the subject headings to help build your list of search terms. Here are some suggested starting points:
| General | Gender/Sex/Sexuality | Religion | Race/Ethnicity |
| Country name | Abused Women | Freedom of Religion | Ethnic Minority |
| Dissenters | Domestic Violence | Name of minority religious group | Minority & Ethnic Groups |
| Gangs, Organized Crime, Violent Crime | Female-Male Relations | Religion | Name of racial/ethnic group |
| Group/Org. Name | Gender-Based Violence | Religious liberty | Race discrimination |
| Hate Crimes | Homosexuality | Racist violence and Harassment | |
| Human Rights | Intimate Partner Violence | ||
| Oppression | Sexual Orientation | ||
| Persecution | Violence against Women | ||
| Political persecution | Women's Rights | ||
| Political refugees | HIV, HIV-positive persons | ||
| Social marginality | AIDS, AIDS (Disease), Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome | ||
| Whistle blowing |